A contribution to the study of cultural and economic dynamics of the historical settlements of East Africa coast with particular preference to the ruins at Takwa, North Kenya Coast.

Abstract

This thesis presents a study of the cultural as well as economic dynamics of the historical settlements of East African coast with particular reference to the ruins at Takwa located on Manda Island of Lamu Archipelago. The study rs based on published and unpublished data as well as on the material recovered during the excavations conducted by the author himself on Takwa Ruins. Although the study places emphasis on every aspect of the material culture of these settlements, special attention has been given in this thesis, to methodology, chronology, ceramic and non-ceramic assemblages , as well as faunal and floral evidence. The typological framework used in the analysis of various material remains has been based largely on typologies previously applied by others. From the evidence given this thesis, the following conclusions can be drawn from the historical settlements of the coast of East Africa in general and of Takwa in particular. 1. ORIGINS: The stratigraphic sequence of these settlements with its associated ceramic and non-ceramic remains supports indigenous rather than foreign origins. 2. CHRONOLOGY: Imported pottery dates for coastal settlement must be treated with greater caution than has previously been shown and should not be used to the exclusion pf other more objective and scientific methods of dating such as Carbon-14. 3. CULTURE: The quantity of locally made objects especially ceramics by far exceeds that of imported objects. This suggests that no foreign populations or culture dominated these settlements, although contacts with foreigners were maintained throughout the history of their occupation. 4. ECONOMY: Coastal settlements had well defined economic activities on which the inhabitants depended for survival. They did not have to be parasitic on overseas lands. 5. ABANDONMENT: This was caused largely by the insecurity that was caused by the Portuguese, Zimba and Ottoman Turks excesses on the one hand, and the Arab slave trade raids on the other.